Geocarto International

ISSN: (Print) (Online) Journal homepage: https://www.tandfonline.com/loi/tgei20

Structural lineament mapping of Central-Eastern

high atlas, Morocco, using ASAR/Envisat and SAR/
sentinel 1B data

Ibtissame Bentahar, Mustapha Allouban, Mohammed Raji, Hicham Si

Mhmadi & Noura Zoraa

To cite this article: Ibtissame Bentahar, Mustapha Allouban, Mohammed Raji, Hicham
Si Mhmadi & Noura Zoraa (2022): Structural lineament mapping of Central-Eastern high
atlas, Morocco, using ASAR/Envisat and SAR/sentinel 1B data, Geocarto International, DOI:
10.1080/10106049.2022.2102217

To link to this article: https://doi.org/10.1080/10106049.2022.2102217

Published online: 26 Jul 2022.

Submit your article to this journal

Article views: 2

View related articles

View Crossmark data

Full Terms & Conditions of access and use can be found at

https://www.tandfonline.com/action/journalInformation?journalCode=tgei20
GEOCARTO INTERNATIONAL
https://doi.org/10.1080/10106049.2022.2102217

Structural lineament mapping of Central-Eastern

high atlas, Morocco, using ASAR/Envisat and SAR/sentinel
1B data
Ibtissame Bentahara, Mustapha Alloubanb, Mohammed Rajia, Hicham Si
Mhmadib and Noura Zoraaa
a
Department of Geology, Laboratory of Applied Geology, Geoinformatics and Environment, Faculty
of Sciences Ben M’Sik, Hassan II University of Casablanca, Casablanca, Morocco; bDepartment of
Geosciences, Faculty of Sciences and Techniques of Errachidia, Moulay Ismail University,
Meknes, Morocco

ABSTRACT ARTICLE HISTORY

The Central-Eastern part of the High Atlas is dominated by car- Received 13 August 2021
bonate of Mesozoic age which is affected by the Alpine Orogeny. Accepted 11 July 2022
The deformation manifest in area by different geological struc-
KEYWORDS
tures. The analysis of these later lead to their classification in dif-
Central-Eastern High
ferent category for understanding the geodynamic of the area. Atlas; Sentinel
This study focuses to map structural lineaments in the Central- 1B; Envisat; structural
Eastern High Atlas using two types of Radar data: Synthetic lineaments; mapping
Aperture Radar (SAR)/Sentinel 1B with polarization (VV þ VH) and
Advanced Synthetic Aperture Radar (ASAR)/Envisat with polariza-
tion (VV þ HH). This research aims to demonstrate the utility of
Radar data for extracting structural lineaments in carbonate
deposits. In this work, two techniques of processing data are
used: First, the automatic extraction technique, we are employing
the Algorithm Line Module of PCI Geomatica program, after the
enhancement of images by applying the mean Co-occurrence fil-
ter. Second, the manual extraction technique, it was accomplished
by applying directional filters with four directions (N00 , N45 ,
N90 and N135 ) in order to highlight linear structures, then trace
the detected lineaments. The synthetic maps of structural linea-
ments are developed by the two techniques. They are validated
by using the lithologic maps extracted from Landsat Operational
Land Imager (OLI), the previous researches in the study area,
shaded relief extracted from ASTER Global Digital Elevation Model
(GDEM), and field investigation data. The results present a good
correlation between the direction of structural lineaments
extracted from the satellite images and the field measurements.
Therefore, the directions of lineaments extracted are N-S and E-W,
NE-SW and NW-SE, especially the abundance of the direction N-S.
This last one is perpendicular with the major faults. The density
of structural lineaments in the study area is controlled particularly
by the lithological nature and dynamic evolution, where the con-
centration is high in the Liassic carbonates. The geostatistical and
spatial distribution of the structural lineaments led us to conclude
that different tectonic factors are responsible for the distribution
of lineaments in the surface of the study area. The comparison of

CONTACT Ibtissame Bentahar bentaharibtissame@gmail.com

ß 2022 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group
2 I. BENTAHAR ET AL.

two types of radar data shows that Envisat data is more efficient
in the manual extraction than Sentinel 1B data. However, Sentinel
1B data is more efficient in the automatic extraction than Envisat
data. This work identifies several families of structural lineaments
which can be determined the tectonic phases of the Alpine
orogeny affected the intracontinental Atlas basin.

1. Introduction
A structural lineament is a linear structure appeared on the earth’s surface. It is oriented
either straight or curved line. In general, structural lineaments are geological features.
They present a weak zone (Yao et al. 2014; Ahmadi and Pekkan 2021) which are the
structural elements, such as faults, fractures, folding axes and lithologic contacts.
Moreover, they represent phenomena that occur beneath the surface (Baghdadi et al.
2005; Abdullah et al. 2010; Bentahar et al. 2020). Tectonic constraints control the move-
ment and geodynamics of the earth. They are responsible for creation of structural linea-
ments. Surface movement leads to the deformation of sedimentary formations as a result
folds and halokinetic diapirs. Deep tectonic movements whether horizontal or vertical are
caused by block movements, massif movements, earthquakes or cracks. Active faults can
be identified using a structural lineaments map. This later can be helpful to determine the
seismic zones (Coulibaly 1996; Koita et al. 2010; Ahmadi and Pekkan 2021). Furthermore,
the examination of geological lineaments is used for exploring of the mine, petroleum,
and waste storage, as well as the search of groundwater movement (Hashim et al. 2013;
Yao et al. 2014; Sedrette and Rebaï 2016). Conventional mapping methods of structural
lineaments are costly and complex especially in the area hard to reach. Using multispec-
tral, radar, and hyperspectral data in geological mapping have evolved in recent years
(Othman and Gloaguen 2014; Mondal et al. 2022). The benefits of using Radar data to
map structural lineaments have been demonstrated in different works. Adiri et al. (2017)
and Javhar et al. (2019) have shown that Radar data/Sentinel 1A is more efficient than
Optical data in mapping of structural lineaments. Also, the work of Jellouli et al. (2021)
has shown the performance of Radar data ALOS/PALSAR. Others researches have
exploited mostly the advantages of the Radar data in the mapping of structural lineaments
using Radarsat data (Baghdadi et al. 2005; Nguemhe Fils et al. 2018; Tagnon et al. 2020).
As the reason to employ this type of image, the radar equipment is knowing by pinpoint
accuracy in detecting of objects and their strong ability to observe its in all-weather situa-
tions (Henry et al. 2006; Hajj and Baghdadi 2017; Steinhausen et al. 2018). The processing
techniques of Radar data are generally based on a specific methodology according to the
fixed objectives. Usually, structural lineaments extraction is classified a manual extraction
depended on visualization and experience of geologist’s (Sedrette 2015, 2016), semi-auto-
matic extraction (Raj. S and A. Ahmed 2014; Han et al. 2018), and automatic extraction
based on the quality of the images and the type of algorithm used in processing of the
satellite image (Rutzinger et al. 2007; Farahbakhsh et al. 2020; Abdelouhed et al. 2021).
The Central-Oriental High Atlas presents a large tectonic corridor. It is characterized
by different compressive and extensive tectonic structures recorded in the different litho-
logical units. Analysis of these structures indicates the tectonic phases affecting the area.
Much geological studies were realized in the Central-Eastern High Atlas. All of them try
to understand better the genesis of this belt (Teixell et al. 2003; Ait Addi and Chafiki
2013; Babault et al. 2013; El Alaoui El Moujahid et al. 2016; Bentahar et al. 2020). The
 GEOCARTO INTERNATIONAL 3

majority of studies on the Central High Atlas did not give a detail specially in structural
side due to the topography, this is marked by the highest mountains (Jbel Ayachi
3757 m). The lack of structural research creates many problematics about the genesis of
High Atlas.
This work sumps up the results about the mapping and analysis of structural linea-
ments using spatial data in calcareous High Atlas, hence we adopted the Radar Sentinel
1B data with polarization (VV þ HH) and Envisat with polarization (VV þ HH) in the
Central-Eastern High Atlas. The processing of these data is done by employing two
techniques of extraction automatic and manual. The objectives setting in this work are:
(i) demonstration the qualities of radar data in detection of structural lineaments in the
High Atlas through using several methods of validation and comparison between two
techniques of extraction, (ii) realization of geostatistical and spatial analysis for precising
the distribution of lineaments in the surface of this area. iii) classification of lineaments
cropping up in the Central-Eastern High Atlas in order to understand the dynamic of
alpine orogeny and determination of the geological conditions responsible for the con-
centration of the structural lineaments and the explanation how create these later in the
Central-Eastern High Atlas. The results obtained can be used as a reference for the next
geological researches and exploration projects that will have done in High Atlas in
the future.

2. Geographical and geological settings of the study area

The study area is located in the middle of Errachidia and Midelt cities. Its coordinates are
between 32 410 0000 N to 32 000 000 N and 4 000 000 W to 4 500 000 W. It is characterized mainly
by two watersheds Ziz and Guir (Figure 1). The geology of the study area belongs to the
intracontinental Atlasic belt (Figure 2). It is formed by the Paleozoic inlier cropping up in
the region of Mougueur-El’Bour, which is constituted by sandstones, pelites and satin
schists of Cambrian/Devonian (EL korchi 1981; Ouanaimi et al. 2018). Mesozoic cover is
exposed in discordance with the Paleozoic basement (Figure 3). It is started by the
Triassic units which is materialized by the conglomerates, red-clay, evaporate and lavas
flows. It is widely represented in the anticlinal ridges (Beauchamp 1988; El Qaydey et al.
2006; Michard et al. 2011; Mart
ın-Mart
ın et al. 2017) . The Jurassic formations in the
study area are began by the limestones and dolomites of lower Liassic, which are sur-
mounted by the limestones alternating with the marls bars of Middle Liassic (Lachkar
et al. 2009; Teixell et al. 2017). The Middle Jurassic is formed by marl with limestone
layers. The magmatic activity in the Upper Jurassic-Lower Cretaceous, in this part of
High Atlas, is represented by a massive magmatic intrusions of gabbro, diorite, syenite
and doleritic dykes (Lhachmi et al. 2001; Guezal et al. 2011; Allouban et al. 2021). The
Cretaceous strata are exposed mainly in the North and South of the study area (Figure 2).
The Central-Eastern High Atlas is known by thin-skinned thrusting tectonic (Figure
2(b)), formed by N-S Cenozoic compression (Teixell et al. 2003; Arboleya et al. 2004).
Structural study of Laville (Laville 1985) is detected three major fault families N40 to
N50, N70 to N90 and N110 to 120 (Figure 2(c)). The mineralization in the Central-
Eastern High Atlas is characterized by two types depended on the tectonic effect in the
study area: Mineralization of Copper and fluorite is related to magmatic intrusion of
Jurassic-Cretaceous age. Mineralization of plomb and zinc is related to circulation of
hydrothermal fluids (Ait Brahim et al. 2002; Hinaje et al. 2015).
4 I. BENTAHAR ET AL.

Figure 1. Geographical location of Central-Oriental High Atlas.

3. Materials and methods

3.1. Data sources
3.1.1. ASAR/Envisat
The Advanced Synthetic Aperture Radar (ASAR) sensor on board the Environmental
Satellite (Envisat) is an Earth observation satellite (Table 1). It belongs to sensor ASAR
with several imaging modes: Image mode (IM) and alternate polarization (AP) (Henry
et al. 2006; Paloscia et al. 2008). AP mode data allows to get two images with three pos-
sible polarization combinations: HH and VV, HH and HV, VV and VH. With a spatial
resolution of 30 m, a nominal pixel spacing of 12.5 m  12.5 m has been selected ranging
from 31.0 to 39.4 . While the swath goes from 56 to 100 km (Chen et al. 2007). In this
work, we used Envisat with polarization (HH þ VV).

3.1.2. SAR/sentinel 1B
Sentinel 1B belongs to the Sentinel mission composed of the SAR sensor (Table 1) operat-
ing in the C-band (3.75–7.5 cm) with a tracking cycle of six days (Snoeij et al. 2011; Liu
et al. 2019). In this mode, the scenes cover 250 km in wide, with better spatial resolution
(5  20 m) and radiometric resolution (1 dB). Also, the incidence angle is between 29.1
and 46. There are two polarized instruments (HH þ HV or VV þ VH) included Single
Look Complex (SLC) and Ground Range Detected (GRD). The data are projected from
the WGS84 terrestrial ellipsoid model.
 GEOCARTO INTERNATIONAL 5

Figure 2. (a) Location of study area, (b) Geological map of study area extracted from Geological map of the High
Atlas North of Ksares Souk and Boudnib, geological map of High Atlas of Midelt (Dubar 1949) and structural map
(Ibouh 2004) (c) direction of Majors fault extract from geological map.

In this work, we also included Landsat OLI data to elaborate the lithological map of
the study area. As well as, we adopted ASTER DEM data to elaborate the Hillshade, and
Relief shade map (slop map). These data are used as validation data of the synthetic maps
of the structural lineaments obtained from the Radar images. Adding that the satellite
data we based on the field data and the geological map of the study area for validation
of results.
6 I. BENTAHAR ET AL.

Figure 3. Synthetic lithostratigraphic column of Central-Eastern High Atlas (Michard et al. 2011) modified.
 GEOCARTO INTERNATIONAL 7

Table 1. The characteristics of radar SAR/Sentinel 1B, and ASAR/Envisat data.

Instrument Mode Swath (km) Resolution (m) Polarization Incidence angle ( )
Sentinel 1 IW (interferometric wide Swath) 250 km 5  20 VV–VH 29.1 46
Envisat AP (Alternate polarization) 56–100 km 12.5 m VV–HH 15 –45
IM (Image Mode)

Table 2. The characteristics of Landsat OLI.

Landsat OLI
Bands Wavelength (lm) Resolution
1 0.44 30 m
2 0.48 30 m
3 0.56 30 m
4 0.655 30 m
5 0.865 30 m
6 1.61 30 m
7 2,2 30 m
8 0.59 15 m
9 1,37 30 m
10 10.9 100
11 12 100

3.1.3. Landsat-8 OLI

Landsat-8 Operational Land Imager (OLI) is a satellite observation that contains nine
spectral bands with a spatial resolution of 30 m, one panchromatic band with a spatial
resolution of 15 m, and two TIR bands with a spatial resolution of 100 m (Table 2).

3.1.4. ASTER GDEM

Digital elevation model (ASTER GDEM) produced from the ASTER satellite covers the
entire surface of the Earth, takes into account the relief, with a spatial resolution of 30 m,
reconstructs topographic and hydrological information.

3.2. Structural lineaments mapping techniques

The choice of SAR/Sentinel 1B with polarization (VV þ VH), and ASAR/Envisat with
polarization (VV þ HH) aims to exploit the good spatial resolution, and their polariza-
tions in the extraction of structural lineaments in the carbonate deposits. The difference
between the two radar sensors allows for obtaining complementary informations. They
help to detect a maximum of lineaments. The methodology for processing these data is
divided into three parts: the preprocessing and processing of satellite data, and finally the
validation of the results obtained. The methodology of processing of data is summarized
in Figure 4.

3.2.1. Pre-processing
The preprocessing of two types of Radar data; SAR/Sentinel 1B and ASAR/Envisat images
is based on the removal of noise, and increase of the reflectance of the images. At this
stage, we use radiometric calibration to adjust the intensity of the pixels. The second
element is the application of speckle filtering. This technique is required for the process-
ing (Frulla et al. 1998; Chen et al. 2007) of radar images. These last one is characterized
by speckle noise which are the microwaves emitted by the active sensors. The final phase
concerns the terrain correction by applying the geometric distortion of terrain. So, the
image has a surface closer than real images SAR/ASAR (Javhar et al. 2019).
8 I. BENTAHAR ET AL.

Figure 4. Methodology flowchart of the processing techniques.

3.2.2. Processing techniques

3.2.2.1. Mean co-occurrence filter. Mean co-occurrence filter used in image processing
technique. It is based on the application of a boundary-preserving co-occurrence filter
(Nguemhe Fils et al. 2018). Texture based on a measure of occurrence in first, as well as
different parameters such as data extent, mean, variance, entropy and skewness. In this
work, we applied the co-occurrence filter on different polarization images (VV þ HH) and
(VH þ VV) of Envisat, and Sentinel 1B data respectively. Figure 5 illustrates the results
where the filters allow to increase the visualization of the image and highlight the tectonic
lineaments, which is the objective of this study.

3.2.2.2. Directional filters. Directional filters are one of technique of image enhance-
ment that allows for the detection of linear structures. Directional filters can also be
used as a source to create shaded relief images (Jellouli et al. 2021). The application
of directional filters to the mapping of structural lineaments demonstrates their effect-
iveness in detecting lineaments. This technique is used in either automatic (Sedrette
et al. 2015; Bentahar et al. 2020) or manual extraction (Nguemhe Fils et al. 2018).
This technique allows highlighting the edge to extract the largest number of linea-
ments. In this study, we applied the directional filters on the VV polarization of Envisat
data (Figure 6), and the VV polarization of Sentinel 1B data (Figure 7) using 7  7
 GEOCARTO INTERNATIONAL 9

Figure 5. (a) HH and (b) VV polarization of Envisat data. (c) VH and (d) VV polarization of Sentinel 1B.

matrices in four directions (N0 , N45 , N90 and N135 ). The results of four directional
filters on the two types of images show the enhancement of the lineaments depending on
the light angle. The comparison of the two data demonstrates the influence of the light
angle on the Sentinel 1B data, while the use of directed filters on the Envisat data allows
us to see tectonic lineaments more visibly.

3.2.2.3. Automatic extraction of lineaments. Automatic extraction is one of the

approaches for extracting tectonic lineaments. The automatic extraction was accomplished
using the algorithm LINE of Geomatica software. Different parameters control the auto-
matic extraction of the lineament (Abdullah et al. 2010; Hashim et al. 2013; Adiri et al.
2017) summarized in the flowchart (Figure 8).
10 I. BENTAHAR ET AL.

Figure 6. Directional filters of VV polarization of Envisat (a) N00 , (b) N45 , (c) N90 and (d) N135 .

-RADI (filter radius): the radius is used in the detection of contours and is measured in
pixels. The recommended value is between 3 and 8.
-GTHR (Edge Gradient Threshold) in units: the gradient value is between 0 and 225 the
recommender value is between 10 and 70.
-LTHR (Curve Length Threshold) in pixels: Minimum length of a curve to be taken as
lineament (a value of 10 is suitable).
-FTHR (Line Fitting Threshold) in degree: The maximum error allowed to form a poly-
line. Values between 2 and 5 are recommended;
-ATHR (Angular Difference Threshold) in degree: Specifies the angle not to be exceeded
between two polylines to be connected. Values between 3 and 20 are suitable;
-DTHR (Linking Distance Threshold) in pixels: The maximum distance between two
vectors to be linked. Values between 10 and 45 are acceptable.
 GEOCARTO INTERNATIONAL 11

Figure 7. Directional filters of VV polarization of Sentinel 1B (a) N00 , (b) N45 , (c) N90 and (d) N135.

Automatic extraction of tectonic lineaments by entering the values shown in Table 3

on different polarized images (VV þ HH) and (VH þ VV) of ASAR/Envisat, and Sentinel
1B data, respectively. The results obtained are saved as a shapefile for further processing.

3.2.2.4. Manuel extraction of lineaments. Manual extraction is another method applied in

the extraction of structural lineaments (El Alaoui El Moujahid et al. 2016; Sedrette 2016;
Nguemhe Fils et al. 2018). This method is based on the enhancement of the image by
applying filters, in order to highlight lineaments structures. In this work, we have adopted
manual extraction by applying the four directional filters images (N00 , N45 , N90 and
N135 ) for each of the VV of Envisat and Sentinel 1B data, then draw the tectonic linea-
ments detected by the eye using the ArcGis software based on the geological and litho-
logical map of the area.
12 I. BENTAHAR ET AL.

Figure 8. Flowchart presents Different parameters that control the automatic extraction of the lineament.

Table 3. The values of the LINE parameters using in this study.

Parameter Unit Value
RADI Pixel 8
GTHR Unitless 70
LTHR Pixel 20
FTHR Pixel 5
ATHR Degrees 15
DTHR Pixel 10

3.3. Post-processing
The post-processing or validation of the obtained results is an important step based on
the validation of the synthetic maps of the structural lineaments extracted from the
ENVISAT satellite images with polarization (VV þ HH) and Sentinel 1B with polarization
(VH þ VV) by using the following approach of the acquired data:

3.3.1. Lithological map

Due to the lack of a map covering the entire area, we proposed to create a lithological
map based on satellite data. In this work, we adopted the Landsat OLI image based on
the processing technique the work of (Bentahar and Raji 2021) by applying the min-
imum noise fraction (MNF) and supervised classification Maximum likelihood classifier
(MLC) to well visualized the distribution of structural lineaments according to the litho-
logical nature. The results obtained show a good correlation between the MLC map and
the geological map of the study area. In addition, the synthetic map of supervised classi-
fication MLC is well developed than the geological map of the area precisely in the
western part.

3.3.2. Relief shaded (slop map)

Relief shaded using ASTER DEM to visualize the behaviour of the lineaments with the
topography of the area.
 GEOCARTO INTERNATIONAL 13

3.3.3. Field investigation

Field investigation by taking GPS points of the detected faults in the field in order to
superimpose them on the synthetic map of the radar images and quantifying the direc-
tions of geological structures.

4. Results
The results of the extraction of structural lineaments using automatic extraction are vali-
dated by the geological map, lithological map and Google Earth images to eliminate artifi-
cial lineaments such as roads, rivers and rail bitumen. Figures 9–12 show the synthetic
maps of the structural lineaments extracted from the two radar satellite data using the
automatic extraction method. Figures 13 and 14 present the synthetic map of lineaments
extract using the manual extraction method.

4.1. Statistic
The statistical analysis of histogram distribution of the lineaments is in relation to the
length. The length of the lineaments extracted automatically from the HH polarization of
Envisat data (Figure 15(a)) shows that the length of the lineaments varies between a min-
imum value of 2633 m and a maximum value of 144,245 m. The majority of these linea-
ments have a length between 140 and 260 m, while the VV polarization of Envisat data
(Figure 15(b)) presents that the minimum value of the structural lineaments length is less
than 173 m, but the maximum value is 6640 m. The majority of the lineaments have a
length less than 450 m. The VH polarization of the Sentinel 1B data indicates
(Figure15(c)) that the length of the lineaments is between 1304 and 44,066 m. The major-
ity of the extracted lineaments have a length between 13 and 350 m. On the other hand,
the length of the lineaments extracted by VV polarization of Sentinel 1B data (Figure
15(d)) is framed between the minimum value 8428 and maximum value 544,721 m. The
majority of the extracted lineaments have a length less than 480 m. The length of linea-
ments extracted by VV polarization of Envisat data (Figure 15(e)) shows that the length
of lineaments is varied between minimum value 343 and maximum value more than
40,000 m. The majority of the extracted lineaments have a length less than 3500 m.
However, the length of the lineaments extracted manually shows the VV polarization of
the Sentinel 1B data (Figure 15(f)) is between 3000 and 52,520 m. The majority of the lin-
eaments are less than 5000 m. The analysis of the results obtained shows that automatic
extraction allows to extract the tectonic lineaments difficult to detect by the naked eye.
The comparison of the results of the ASAR/Envisat and SAR/Sentinel 1B data using the
automatic extraction, the (VV þ VH) polarization of the Sentinel 1B data allow to extract
small fractures more than the Envisat data. The manual extraction of VV polarization of
Envisat data using directional filters allows detecting more structural lineaments than VV
polarization of Sentinel 1B data.

4.2. Orientation
The direction of the structural lineaments in the results of automatic extraction of HH
and VV polarization of Envisat data (Figure 16(a,b)) shows that the direction of the
extracted lineaments is N-S, NW-SE and NNE-SSW. On the other hand, the direction of
the lineaments, using the rose diagram of VH and VV polarization of Sentinel 1B data
(Figure 16(c,d)), is generally N-S, NW-SE, NE-SW and E-W. Concerning, the direction of
14 I. BENTAHAR ET AL.

Figure 9. Superposition of structural lineaments extracted automatically from (HH) polarization of Envisat data on
Hillshade map.

structural lineaments extracted by manual extraction from the VV polarization of the

Envisat (Figure 16(e)) shows that the lineament direction is NW-SE and NE-SW. The lin-
eaments direction from the VV polarization Sentinel 1B data (Figure 16(f)) is divided into
two families of directions: NE-SW and NW-SE. The automatic extraction allows to extract
 GEOCARTO INTERNATIONAL 15

Figure 10. Superposition of structural lineaments extracted automatically from (VV) polarization of Envisat data on
Hillshade map.

four groups of direction of lineaments with the abundance of N-S direction. However, the
manual extraction allows to extract two groups with an abundance of NE-SW direction.
The analysis of the different directions of structural lineaments shows that N-S direction
essentially presents small length lineaments which are perpendicular to the direction of
16 I. BENTAHAR ET AL.

Figure 11. Superposition of structural lineaments extracted automatically from (VH) polarization of Sentinel 1B data
on Hillshade map.

major faults. The direction of the structural lineaments NE-SW to E-W lineaments
detected by automatic and manual extraction is the longest lineaments which present the
direction of the major faults in the study area.
 GEOCARTO INTERNATIONAL 17

Figure 12. Superposition of structural lineaments extracted automatically from (VV) polarization of Sentinel 1B data
on Hillshade map.

4.3. Lithology
The superposition of the synthetic map of the structural lineaments on the RGB colour
composite of MNF image of Landsat OLI (MNF4, MNF2 and MNF1) (Figure 17) as well
18 I. BENTAHAR ET AL.

Figure 13. Superposition of structural lineaments extracted manually from (VV) polarization of Envisat data on
Hillshade map.

as on the lithological map extracted from the Landsat OLI image using supervised classifi-
cation MLC (Figures 18 and 19) show clearly the lithological unites. This superposition
aims to know well the distribution of the lineaments according to the facies nature and to
validate the lithological limits. It allows to distinguish the structural lineaments. The
 GEOCARTO INTERNATIONAL 19

Figure 14. Superposition of structural lineaments extracted manually from (VV) polarization of Sentinel 1B data on
Hillshade map.

analysis of the synthetic maps shows that the results obtained by superposition of RGB
colour composite with lineaments extracted automatically indicates greatly the concentra-
tion of the structural lineaments more than the manual extraction. The comparison
between the synthetic maps of the automatic extraction shows that VV þ VH polarization
20 I. BENTAHAR ET AL.

Figure 15. Histogram of lineaments repartition as a function of length for the automatically extracted (a) HH, (b) VV
polarization of Envisat data, (c) VH, (d) VV polarization of Sentinel 1B, and for the manually extracted form (e) VV
polarization of Envisat data and (f) VV polarization of Sentinel 1B.
 GEOCARTO INTERNATIONAL 21

Figure 16. Rose diagrams showing the orientations of lineaments for the automatically extracted (a) HH, (b) VV polar-
ization of Envisat data, (c) VH, (d) VV polarization of Sentinel 1B, and for manually extracted form (e) VV polarization
of Envisat data, (f) VV polarization of Sentinel 1B.
22 I. BENTAHAR ET AL.

Figure 17. Superposition of the lineaments extracted automatically from (a) HH, (b) VV polarization of Envisat data,
(c) VH, (d) VV polarization of Sentinel 1B, and manually extracted from (e) VV polarization of Envisat data and (f) VV
polarization of Sentinel 1B on MNF CC (MNF4, MNF2 and MNF1) of Landsat OLI.
 GEOCARTO INTERNATIONAL 23

Figure 18. Superposition of the lineaments extracted automatically from (a) HH, (b) VV polarization of Envisat data,
(c) VH and (d) VV polarization of Sentinel 1B on lithological map of the Landsat OLI image.

of SAR/Sentinel 1B (Figure 17(c,d)) and (Figure 18(c,d)) data have a greater concentration
than VV þ HH polarization of ASAR/Envisat data (Figure 17(a,b)) and (Figure 18(a,b)).
The results reveal that fracturing is more important in brittle formations, such as massive
24 I. BENTAHAR ET AL.

Figure 19. Superposition of the lineaments extracted manually from (a) VV polarization of Envisat data; (b) VV polar-
ization of Sentinel 1B on lithological map of the Landsat OLI image.

limestones and dolomites. Furthermore, we remarked that the lineaments trace the limits
between different lithological facies.

4.4. Density of lineaments

The distribution of lineaments relating to surface of the area is performed using the
Line density in ArcGis. The lineaments density maps of the HH and VV polarization
of Envisat data (Figure 20(a,b)) show that the concentration of lineaments is high in
the North of the study area. However, the VV and VH polarization of Sentinel 1B data
(Figure 20(c,d)) present that the lineaments concentration follows the main axes of the
Central-Eastern High Atlas. The manually extraction lineaments density map of VV
polarization from the Envisat data (Figure 20(e)) reveals the concentration is import-
ant in the lozenge basin existing in North-Eastern part of Rich region, while VV polar-
ization of the Sentinel 1B data (Figure 20(f)) presents that the lineaments
concentration is higher in the Eastern part of this area. The comparison of density
maps with the lithological map and the structural map shows that the concentration
rate is relating to geological conditions. The concentration of structural lineaments is
high at the level of major structures of the Central-Eastern High Atlas which are
 GEOCARTO INTERNATIONAL 25

Figure 20. The density maps for the automatically extracted (a) HH, (b) VV polarization of Envisat data, (c) VH and (d)
VV polarization of Sentinel 1B, and for manually extracted form (a) VV polarization of Envisat data, (b) VV polarization
of Sentinel 1B.
26 I. BENTAHAR ET AL.

Figure 21. Superposition of Shaded relief map and the automatically extract lineaments from (a)HH, (b) VV polariza-
tion of Envisat data, (c) VH and (d) VV polarization of Sentinel 1B, and the manually extract lineaments from (e) VV
polarization of Envisat data, (f) VV polarization of Sentinel 1B.
 GEOCARTO INTERNATIONAL 27

Figure 22. (a) Superposition of composite map of lineaments extracted automatically and manually from VV polariza-
tion of Envisat and Sentinel 1B with Hillshade map. (b) Rose diagram of lineaments.
28 I. BENTAHAR ET AL.

Figure 23. (a), (b), (c), (d) and (e) Field photographs showing some lineaments extracted from (f) VV polarization of
Envisat data.

characterized by cropping up of brittle formations. This last one is materialized by

limestones, dolomites, massive carbonate and black limestones. At the level of longs of
major faults, they are characterized by movements between the compartments of faults
which lead to fracture. In addition, the fracture is important at the level of the diapir
of the Triassic formations. However, it is less important in ductile formations, such as
the shales and schists.
 GEOCARTO INTERNATIONAL 29

Figure 24. (a), (b), (c) and (d) Field photographs showing some lineaments extracted from (e) HH polarization of
Envisat data.

4.5. Shaded relief thematic

Shaded relief map is one of the methods of validation of lineaments extracted from satel-
lite images. Shaded relief map is formed from DEM image which processed using ArcGIS
map. The interpretation of map is based on the presence of the boundary between shaded
and unshaded areas. The change of slope can represent probably the tectonic lineaments.
The lineaments extracted automatically (Figure 21(a–d)) and manually (Figure 21(e,f)) on
the shaded relief thematic map show that the distribution of lineaments depends
on slopes.
30 I. BENTAHAR ET AL.

Figure 25. Rose diagrams showing the orientations of lineaments Detect in field investigation.

5. Discussion
Figure 22(a) shows the composite map of lineaments extracted automatically and manu-
ally from VV polarization of Envisat and Sentinel 1B on Hillshade map. The lineaments
direction is mainly N-S and NW-SE (Figure 22(b)). Validation of the extracted lineaments
using radar data was carried out at different stations in the field investigation (Figures 23
and 24). The validation allows us to visualize the effect of fracture on the study area.
Indeed, the structural analysis leads to determine the factors controlling the fracture in
this area. The measurements of faults directions show a good correlation with the direc-
tion of structural lineaments extracted from the Radar images. The rose diagram of meas-
ured faults, axes folds and fractures shows that the direction of lineaments is grouped
into three families (Figure 25) NE-SW, N-S, NW-SW and E-W. The analysis of the faults
in the field presents that the lineaments direction is classified as follows: the direction of
faults N-S indicates normal faults which are perpendicular with the major fault direction.
The N-S direction is materialized mainly at level of major structures in Central-Eastern
High Atlas. They are related to movement of major faults. The direction of NE-SW of lin-
eaments presents normal faults which is materialized in the Lower Jurassic, as well as it
can be related to the direction of reverse faults in some places. However, the ENE-WSW
to E-W direction present the major faults which are related to alpine compression. The
NW-SW direction generally indicates the transverse faults. In addition, we have deduced
that the major faults are traced at the level of the narrow ridges formed by the carbonate
formations of Liassic age and Triassic basalts. The Major Lineaments present old and
deep faults which are raised under the effects of the alpine tectonic compression. The
Triassic and Liassic formations are staked under the effects of raising of these faults.
Figure 26 presents the results obtained in previous work using optical data Landsat
OLI, Sentinel 2A, ASTER L1B and ASTER Global Digital Elevation Model (GDEM)
(Bentahar et al. 2020), and Figure 27(a) shows a histogram of number of lineaments as a
function of length. The comparison of optical data with results of radar data shows that
the optical images are less effective in detecting especially small fractures than radar data.
 GEOCARTO INTERNATIONAL 31

Figure 26. (a) Superposition of composite map of lineaments extracted from Landsat OLI, Sentinel 2A, ASTER and
DEM (Bentahar et al. 2020) with Hillshade map.

Generally, the four families direction of tectonic lineaments extracting through optical
data (Figure 27(b)) is NE-SW, E-W, NNE-SSW and NEE-SWW. The results obtained of
ASAR/Envisat data with polarization (VV þ HH) and SAR/Sentinel 1B data with polariza-
tion (VV þ VH) are clearly detected the direction of tectonic lineaments N-S, NW-SE,
32 I. BENTAHAR ET AL.

Figure 27. (a) Histogram of lineaments repartition as a function of length, and (b) Rose diagram extracted from
Landsat OLI, Sentinel 2A, ASTER and DEM (Bentahar et al. 2020).

NE-SW and E-W, which are validated by the measurements of faults directions in the
field investigation. The comparison between radar and optical data shows that the radar
data is efficient in the detection of the linear structures because the radar instruments
have a capacity to detect small objects. The analysis of different results obtained in this
work from the density and lithology maps indicates that the fracture rate depends on the
lithological nature of the study area where is high in the brittle formations. This last one
is cropping up essentially at the major faults of Central–Eastern High Atlas which is
materialized by the massive carbonates and dolomites of early Jurassic. As well as the
fracture is influenced by the force of overthrust, and the effect of the force of shear
affected in the zone of study.
The comparison between the two techniques, used in the extraction of tectonic linea-
ments, shows that the automatic extraction in the mapping of the fracture network is
more efficiency than the manual extraction, which translates the ability of the software in
the detection of linear structures more than the human eye. The results obtained from
the automatic extraction show the efficiency of the Sentinel 1B data with polarization
(VV þ VH) than the Envisat data with polarization (HH þ VV) which is related to the dif-
ference of spatial resolution between the two instruments. However, manual lineaments
extraction using directional filters presents a higher efficiency of the Envisat VV data than
the Sentinel 1B VV data.

6. Conclusion
This work focuses on the application of radar data: ASAR/Envisat with polarization
(VV þ HH) and SAR/Sentinel 1B with polarization (VV þ VH) in the mapping of struc-
tural lineaments in the Central-Eastern High Atlas of Morocco. The processing of the
radar data is realized by applying manual and automatic extraction techniques. The proc-
essing of results obtained in the extracted structural lineaments are mainly N-S, E-W,
NE-SW and NW-SE, with the abundance of N-S direction which is a perpendicular frac-
ture of major accident NEE-SWW direction. According to the field analysis, the N-S dir-
ection is formed under the effect of the thrust force of the major faults. The
concentration of tectonic lineaments based on the density map compared with the
 GEOCARTO INTERNATIONAL 33

lithological and structural map of the study area shows that the concentration of struc-
tural lineaments is controlled by the lithological nature and the tectonic force affected this
area. The results obtained show the effectiveness of ASAR/Envisat data with polarization
(VV þ HH) and SAR/Sentinel 1B with polarization (VV þ VH) in the mapping of tectonic
lineaments. The comparison between automatic and manual extraction shows that auto-
matic extraction detects more tectonic lineaments than manual extraction. In addition,
extraction of SAR/Sentinel 1B with polarization (VV þ VH) is more efficient than ASAR/
Envisat Radar with polarization (VV þ HH). This work allows us to visualize the fracture
in the High Atlas and to determine the factors of fracture that help to understand the
geodynamic evolution of this part of the High Atlas belt, these results obtained can be the
basis of the different mining and hydrogeological exploration in the area.

Acknowledgements
The authors would like to thank so much the Editor and Reviewers for their precious advice, thoughtful
comments and efforts towards improving our manuscript. Moreover, the authors would like to thank
Professor Ilham Bentahar for her English correction.

Disclosure statement
The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Funding
The research did not receive specific funding

Data availability
The authors confirm all data underlying the finding of this study are fully available without restriction.

References
Abdelouhed F, Ahmed A, Abdellah A, Mohammed I. 2021. Lineament mapping in the Ikniouen area
(Eastern Anti-Atlas, Morocco) using Landsat-8 Oli and SRTM data. Remote Sens Appl Soc Environ.
23:100606.
Abdullah, A., Akhir, J. M., & Abdullah, I. (2010). Automatic mapping of lineaments using shaded relief
images derived from digital elevation model (DEMs) in the Maran-Sungi Lembing area, Malaysia.
Electronic J Geotech Eng 15: 1–9.
Adiri Z, El Harti A, Jellouli A, Lhissou R, Maacha L, Azmi M, Zouhair M, Bachaoui EM. 2017.
Comparison of Landsat-8, ASTER and sentinel 1 satellite remote sensing data in automatic lineaments
extraction: a case study of Sidi Flah-Bouskour inlier, Moroccan Anti Atlas. Adv Space Res. 60(11):
2355–2367.
Ahmadi H, Pekkan E. 2021. Fault-based geological lineaments extraction using remote sensing and gis—a
review. Geosciences (Switzerland). 11(5):183.
Ait Addi A, Chafiki D. 2013. Sedimentary evolution and palaeogeography of mid-Jurassic deposits of the
Central High Atlas, Morocco. J Afr Earth Sci. 84:54–69.
Ait Brahim L, Chotin P, Hinaj S, Abdelouafi A, El Adraoui A, Nakcha C, Dhont D, Charroud M, Sossey
Alaoui F, Amrhar M, et al. 2002. Paleostress evolution in the Moroccan African margin from Triassic
to present. Tectonophysics. 357(1–4):187–205.
Allouban M, Karaoui B, Mahmoudi A, Baïdder L, Hafid A, Goodenough K, Eddebbi A. 2021.
Petrographic and geochemical study of Jurassic-Cretaceous intrusive massifs (Gabbros-syenites) of the
Eastern High Atlas, Morocco (Rich-Talsint axis). J Afr Earth Sci. 184:104280.
34 I. BENTAHAR ET AL.

Arboleya ML, Teixell A, Charroud M, Julivert M. 2004. A structural transect through the High and
Middle Atlas of Morocco. J Afr Earth Sci. 39(3-5):319–327.
Babault J, Teixell A, Struth L, Van Den Driessche J, Arboleya ML, Tes
on E. 2013. Shortening, structural
relief and drainage evolution in inverted rifts: insights from the Atlas Mountains, the eastern
Cordillera of Colombia and the Pyrenees. Geol Soc Spec Publ. 377(1):141–158.
Baghdadi N, Grandjean G, Lahondere D, Paillou P, Lasne Y. 2005. Apport de l’imagerie satellitaire radar
pour l’exploration g
eologique en zones arides. Comptes Rendus - Geosci. 337(8):719–728.
Beauchamp J. 1988. Triassic sedimentation and rifting in the high atlas (Morocco). Developments in geo-
tectonics. Vol. 22. Amsterdam, Netherlands : Elsevier B.V.
Bentahar I, Raji M. 2021. Comparison of Landsat OLI, ASTER, and Sentinel 2A data in lithological map-
ping: a case study of rich area (Central High Atlas, Morocco). Adv Space Res. 67(3):945–963.
Bentahar I, Raji M, Si Mhamdi H. 2020. Fracture network mapping using Landsat-8 OLI, sentinel-2A,
ASTER, and ASTER-GDEM data, in the Rich area (Central High Atlas, Morocco). Arab J Geosci.
13(16):1–19. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12517-020-05736-6.
Chen J, Lin H, Pei Z. 2007. Application of ENVISAT ASAR data in mapping rice crop growth in south-
ern China. IEEE Geosci Remote Sensing Lett. 4(3):431–435.
Coulibaly L. 1996. Interpr
etation structurale des lin
eaments par traitement d’images satellitaires: cas des
sous-provinces d’Abitibi et d’Opatica. D
epartement G
eograph T
el
ed
etect M
emoire. 106. https://www.
collectionscanada.gc.ca/obj/s4/f2/dsk2/ftp04/mq21736.pdf.
Dubar G. 1949. Carte g
eologique provisoire du Haut Atlas de Midelt au 1/200 000. Notes et m
emoires du
service g
eologique du maroc, N 59bis, 1–56.
El Alaoui El Moujahid H, Ibouh H, Bachnou A, Babram MA, El Harti A. 2016. Mapping and analysis of
geological fractures extracted by remote sensing on Landsat TM images, example of the Imilchil-
Tounfite area (central High Atlas, Morocco). Estudios Geol. 72(2):1–12.
El Hajj M, Baghdadi N, Zribi M, Bazzi H, 2017. Synergic use of sentinel-1 and sentinel-2 images for oper-
ational soil moisture mapping at high spatial resolution over agricultural areas. Remote Sens. 9(12):
1292.
EL korchi A. 1981. Etude g
eologique de la boutonni
ere de Mougueur–El Bour (Haut Atlas oriental,
Maroc). Paris: Universit
e Pierre-et-Marie-Curie.
El Qaydey J, Taj-Eddine K, Bonn F, Chikhaoui M, Witam O. 2006. Caract
erisation lithologique du haut
atlas marocain AL ’ aide des donn
ees D ’ aster et de mesures spectrales de terrain lithological charac-
terization in the moroccan. T
el
edetection. 6:153–175.
Farahbakhsh E, Chandra R, Olierook HKH, Scalzo R, Clark C, Reddy SM, M€ uller RD. 2020. Computer
vision-based framework for extracting tectonic lineaments from optical remote sensing data. Int J
Remote Sens. 41(5):1760–1787.
Frulla LA, Milovich JA, Karszenbaum H, Gagliardini DA. 1998. Radiometric corrections and calibration
of SAR images. Int Geosci Remote Sens Symp (IGARSS), 2:1147–1149. https://doi.org/10.1109/igarss.
1998.699700
Guezal J, Baghdadi MEL, Barakat A, Rais J. 2011. Le magmatisme jurassique-cr
etac
e de B
eni-Mellal
(Haut-Atlas central, Maroc): g
eochimie et signification g
eodynamique. Bull L’Inst Sci. 33(1981):17–23.
Han L, Liu Z, Ning Y, Zhao Z. 2018. Extraction and analysis of geological lineaments combining a DEM
and remote sensing images from the northern Baoji loess area. Adv Space Res. 62(9):2480–2493.
Hashim M, Ahmad S, Johari MAM, Pour AB. 2013. Automatic lineament extraction in a heavily vegetated
region using Landsat Enhanced Thematic Mapper (ETMþ) imagery. Adv Space Res. 51(5):874–890.
Henry JB, Chastanet P, Fellah K, Desnos YL. 2006. Envisat multi-polarized ASAR data for flood mapping.
Int J Remote Sens. 27(10):1921–1929.
Hinaje S, Charroud M, Ait Brahim L, Arabi H, El Sabaoui A. 2015. Paleocontraintes mesozoiques, evolu-
tion tectonique et paleogeographie des bassins sedimentaires moyen atlasique et central haut atlasique
marocains. ScienceLib Editions Mersenn, 7(May).
Ibouh H. 2004. Du rift avort
e au bassin sur d
ecrochement, contr^ oles tectonique et s
edimentaire pendant
le Jurassique (Haut Atlas central, Maroc). Maroc: Universit
e de Marrakech.
Javhar A, Chen X, Bao A, Jamshed A, Yunus M, Jovid A, Latipa T. 2019. Comparison of multi-resolution
optical Landsat-8, Sentinel-2 and radar Sentinel-1 data for automatic lineament extraction: a case study
of Alichur area, SE Pamir. Remote Sens. 11(7):778–729.
Jellouli A, El Harti A, Adiri Z, Chakouri M, El Hachimi J, Mostafa E. 2021. Remote sensing applications:
society and environment application of optical and radar satellite images for mapping tectonic linea-
ments in kerdous inlier of the Anti-Atlas belt, Morocco. Remote Sens Appl: Soc Environ. 22(April):
100509.
 GEOCARTO INTERNATIONAL 35

Koita M, Jourde H, Ruelland D, Koffi K, Pistre S, Savane I. 2010. Cartographie des accidents r
egionaux et
identification de leur r^ole dans l’hydrodynamique souterraine en zone de socle. Cas de la r
egion de
Dimbokro-Bongouanou (C^ ote d’Ivoire). Hydrol Sci J. 55(5):805–820.
Lachkar N, Guiraud M, El Harfi A, Dommergues JL, Dera G, Durlet C. 2009. Early Jurassic normal fault-
ing in a carbonate extensional basin: characterization of tectonically driven platform drowning (High
Atlas rift, Morocco). J Geol Soc. 166(3):413–430.
Laville E. 1985. Evolutions s
edimentaire, tectonique et magmatique du bassin jurassique du Haut Atlas
(Maroc): modeles en relais multiple de d
ecrochements. FranceL University of Montpellier.
Lhachmi A, Lorand JP, Fabries J. 2001. Petrogenesis of the Anemzi Mesozoic alakaline intrusion, central
High Atlas, Morocco. J Afr Earth Sci. 32(4):741–764.
Liu Y, Gong W, Xing Y, Hu X, Gong J. 2019. ISPRS journal of photogrammetry and remote sensing esti-
mation of the forest stand mean height and aboveground biomass in Northeast China using SAR
Sentinel-1B, multispectral Sentinel-2A, and DEM imagery. ISPRS J Photogramm Remote Sens. 151():
277–289.
Mart
ın-Mart
ın JD, Verg
es J, Saura E, Moragas M, Messager G, Baqu
es V, Razin P, Gr
elaud C, Malaval M,
Joussiaume R, et al. 2017. Diapiric growth within an early Jurassic rift basin: the Tazoult salt wall (cen-
tral High Atlas, Morocco). Tectonics. 36(1):2–32.
Michard A, Ibouh H, Charriere A. 2011. Syncline-topped anticlinal ridges from the High Atlas: a
Moroccan conundrum, and inspiring structures from the Syrian Arc, Israel. Terra Nova. 23(5):
314–323.
Mondal S, Guha A, Pal SK. 2022. Comparative analysis of AVIRIS-NG and Landsat-8 OLI data for litho-
logical mapping in parts of Sittampundi layered complex, Tamil Nadu, India. Adv Space Res. 69(3):
1408–1426.
Nguemhe Fils SC, Bekele Mongo CH, Nkouathio DG, Mimba ME, Etouna J, Njandjock Nouck P, Nyeck
B. 2018. Radarsat-1 image processing for regional-scale geological mapping with mining vocation under
dense vegetation and equatorial climate environment, Southwestern Cameroon. Egypt J Remote Sens
Space Sci. 21:S43–S54.
Othman AA, Gloaguen R. 2014. Improving lithological mapping by SVM classification of spectral and
morphological features: the discovery of a new chromite body in the Mawat ophiolite complex
(Kurdistan, NE Iraq). Remote Sens. 6(8):6867–6896.
Ouanaimi H, Soulaimani A, Baidder L, Eddebbi A, Hoepffner C. 2018. Unraveling a distal segment of the
West African Craton Paleozoic margin: stratigraphy of the Mougueur inlier of the eastern High Atlas,
Morocco. Comptes Rendus - Geosci. 350(6):289–298.
Paloscia S, Member S, Pampaloni P, Pettinato S, Santi E. 2008. A comparison of algorithms for retrieving
soil moisture from ENVISAT/ASAR images. IEEE Trans Geosci Remote Sens. 46(10):3274–3284.
Raj SK, Ahmed SA. 2014. Lineament extraction from southern Chitradurga Schist belt using landsat TM,
ASTERGDEM and geomatics techniques. Int J Comput Appl. 93(12):12–20.
Rutzinger M, Maukisch M, et al. 2007. Development of algorithms for the extraction of linear patterns
(lineaments) from airborne laser scanning data. In Kellerer-Pirklbauer A, Keiler M, Embleton-Hamann
C, Stotter J, editor. Geomorphology for the future: Obergurgl, Austria, Setember 2–7, 2007; Conference
Proceedings. Innsbruck: Innsbruck University Press; p. 161–168.
Sedrette S, Rebai N, Turki M. 2015. D
eveloppement d’une approche quantitative d’extraction semi-auto-
matique des accidents tectoniques de la carte g
eologique de Nefza au 1 /50 000 en format shp. Arab J
Earth Sci. 2(2):53–64.
Sedrette S. 2016. Automatic extraction of lineaments from Landsat Etm þ images and their structural
interpretation: case study in Nefza region (North West of Tunisia) Automatic extraction of lineaments
from Landsat Etm þ images and their structural interpretation: case. September 2018.
Sedrette S, Rebaï N. 2016. Automatic extraction of lineaments from Landsat Etm þ images and their struc-
tural interpretation: case study in Nefza region (North West of Tunisia). J Res Environ Earth Sci.
4(2016):139–145. http://earthexplorer.usgs.gov.
Snoeij P, Brown M, Davidson M, Rommen B, Floury N, Geudtner D, Torres R. 2011. Sentinel-1A and
sentinel-1B CSAR status. Proc SPIE. 8179.
Steinhausen MJ, Wagner PD, Narasimhan B, Waske B. 2018. Combining sentinel-1 and Sentinel-2 data
for improved land use and land cover mapping of monsoon regions. Int J Appl Earth Observ
Geoinform. 73(August):595–604.
Tagnon BO, Assoma VT, Mangoua JMO, Douagui AG, Kouam
e FK, Savan
e I. 2020. Contribution of
SAR/RADARSAT-1 and ASAR/ENVISAT images to geological structural mapping and assessment of
lineaments density in Divo-Oume area (C^ote d’Ivoire). Egypt J Remote Sens Space Sci. 23(2):231–241.
36 I. BENTAHAR ET AL.

Teixell A, Arboleya ML, Julivert M, Charroud M. 2003. Tectonic shortening and topography in the central
High Atlas (Morocco). Tectonics. 22(5):n/a–n/a.
Teixell A, Barnolas A, Rosales I, Arboleya ML. 2017. Structural and facies architecture of a diapir-related
carbonate minibasin (lower and middle Jurassic, High Atlas, Morocco). Mar Pet Geol. 81:334–360.
Yao KT, Oga M, Kouadio KE, Fouch
e O, Ferriere G. 2014. R^ole hydrog
eologique des lin
eaments structur-
aux en milieu cristallin et cristallophyllien: cas du bassin versant du Sassandra, Sud-Ouest de la C^ote
d’Ivoire. Afr Sci Rev Int Sci Technol. 10(4):78–92.